Forty-two children went to bed with “forever families” in Indiana on the evening of Friday, November 16, 2012, National Adoption Day. Henry County Circuit Court Judge Mary G. Willis, Allen County Superior Court Judge Charles F. Pratt, and Starke County Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall presided over their final adoption hearings. These judges celebrated this special day by participating in an Indiana Supreme Court order de … [Read more...] about Indiana Courts Spotlight National Adoption Day
Family Court
2012 Legislative Review
Editor’s Note: This report is a condensed version of the full report prepared by the Indiana Judicial Center. CIVIL LAW Partition S.E.A. 156, P.L. 41-2012 This law establishes a new procedure for partitioning real and personal property that (1) requires a court to refer the matter to mediation and (2) requires the court to order that the property be sold using a method the parties agree upon, or, if the parties are n … [Read more...] about 2012 Legislative Review
Trial Rule 81.1 Procedures for Cases Involving Family or Household Members
The Indiana Supreme has adopted a new rule of trial procedure that provides trial courts special flexibility in handling multiple cases involving the same family or household. Trial Rule 81.1, which became effective January 1, 2012, is based on the special rules, which have been available to courts participating in the Indiana Family Court Projects since the inception of the project in 1998. After the Family Court … [Read more...] about Trial Rule 81.1 Procedures for Cases Involving Family or Household Members
On the Way to Something Better
On Jan. 11, 2012, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard delivered his 25th and final State of the Judiciary address to a Joint Session of the Indiana General Assembly. An excerpted version follows. The State of the Judiciary was broadcast to a statewide audience over the Internet and on radio and television through Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations. Video of the speech and the full text of the 2012 address are … [Read more...] about On the Way to Something Better
Helpful Resources for Courts Drowning in Domestic Relations Cases
Judges with domestic relations jurisdiction are well aware of the time and resources required to manage family law caseloads, particularly the ever-increasing numbers of cases in which the parties appear without lawyers. This article discusses some resources which are available to help courts manage domestic relations caseload and improve outcomes for litigants. Since 2003, courts have been authorized to fund local … [Read more...] about Helpful Resources for Courts Drowning in Domestic Relations Cases